Bulgaria: New government, old information warfare? – Sophia Beiter and Ninon Bouteloup published in the Almanach of the EU Awareness Centre

In a new analysis published by the EU Awareness Centre, IDM Research Associates Sophia Beiter and Ninon Bouteloup examine Bulgaria’s struggle with disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and the institutional weaknesses that continue to leave the country vulnerable. 

Following the April 2026 parliamentary elections, Bulgaria has a rare opportunity for political reform, with a clear parliamentary majority and an anti-corruption mandate. Yet, as the analysis argues, political will alone will not be enough. Persistent corruption, weak institutional coordination, political instability, and low public trust continue to create fertile ground for information manipulation. 

The 2026 parliamentary elections demonstrated both the progress made and the challenges that remain. Since Prime Minister Radev’s coalition victory, no new statements have been made regarding the strategies implemented during the election, neither on the temporary mission led by investigative journalist Christo Grozev nor on the EU’s assistance through the Rapid Response System. This raises an important question: will Rumen Radev’s new government take meaningful steps to counter the very disinformation system that may have aided its rise? 

The analysis explores two possible paths for Bulgaria: Romania as an example of progress in building information resilience, or Slovakia as a cautionary example of how these challenges can deepen. 

With Bulgaria’s next presidential elections scheduled for 25 October 2026, the country will soon face another important test of its ability to protect the integrity of its democratic processes… 

Read the full analysis to discover what Bulgaria’s path ahead could look like: https://euawareness.org/analytics/new-government-old-information-warfare-countering-disinformation-and-foreign-influence-in-bulgaria/